Free cat-only microchipping this week at Washoe animal control

Washoe County Regional Animal Services staff feels more cat owners would take advantage of the agency's free microchip offer if they could do so in an environment where there are no dogs present that might cause stress for the cat.

“We’ve set aside five days just for our feline friends,” director Barry Brode said. “From Monday, July 22, through Friday, July 26, our staff will offer a special free microchip clinic for cats only in the multi-purpose room of our Longley Lane facility.”

Ponyo after being reunited with owner Davon Hayzletts of Dublin, CA in August of 2012

Through January 2014, free microchips will be available from Regional Animal Services during regular business hours. They are located at 2825-A Longley Lane and hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).

Success stories

The staff at Regional Animal Services knows that microchips are making a world of difference in the lives of cat owners. In the past two years, there have been a number of amazing stories in which cats were returned to their owners after being lost for a long period of time or travelling great distances. Examples include:

Splash, an orange tabby who wandered away from his Cold Springs home in July 2011 and was found in Sun Valley almost exactly one year later.

Ponyo, who accidently hitched a ride from the Bay Area and ended up in valet parking at Circus Circus.

Scout, returned to his owner in Spanish Springs after being missing for two-and-a-half years.

Salem, who disappeared from his Citrus Heights, CA yard in January and turned up in south Reno in June.

“These are the kinds of stories that inspired our year-long free microchipping campaign,” Brode said. “We’ve seen the tremendous value of microchips first-hand, now we want to get them out to as many pets as possible.”

The response to Animal Services’ free microchip campaign has been amazing. However, so far, the majority of free microchips have gone to the dogs.

“We want the dogs to keep coming,” Brode said. “However, based on the success stories we’ve seen so far, we are also committed to having more cat owners take advantage of this opportunity.”